Railroad-switch lock



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM L. CAVTHRON, OF HARPERS FERRY, VIRGINIA.

RAILROAD-SWITCH LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,492, dated June 9, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLLAM L. CAw Timon, of Harpers Ferry, in thecounty of Jefferson and State of Virginia7 have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Locks for Railroad-Switches; and I do here bydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation ot the same, reference being had to theannexed drawing, forming part ot this specification, in which- Figure lis a view of switch lever and post with my improved lock attached. Fig.2 is an inside view of lock detached. Fig. 3 is a top view of lockdetached.

Similar characters ot' reference in the several figures denote the samepart.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and secure mode ofsecuring the levers of railroad switches. The ordinary method of doingwhich. is to hold the lever under a hasp secured to the post by apadlock.

My invention consists in providing a lock, the plate ot' which shall befiush with the face ot the post. and which shall have a curved armhinged thereto, the hollow of which arm will hold the switch leveragainst the post; the bolt of the lock securing the arm as will behereinafter set forth.

In the drawing I) is the post and B the switch lever.

L is the lock, the plate of which is flush with the face of the postwhen attached thereto. On the face of the lock is a projection a, towhich is hinged an arm A, having a curve to receive the lever L and acurve C to ali'ord the means of moving said arm. At l the arm isprovided with a lip f, which passes through the plate and receives thebolt la. This bolt runs diagonally as shown in Fig. 2. and is moved by akey inserted in the key hole g.

The operation of the improvement is as follows: The lever is continedagainst the post, as shown in Fig. l. The turning of the key releasesthe attachmentl of the arm A which when swung back, leaves the levertree to drop.

For simplicity of construction and facility of operation this lock isfar superior to the devices now employed to secure the switch levers.

I claim- The arrangement upon the lock plate of the curved securing armA constructed and operating as described for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name before twosubscribing witnesses.

IVM. L. Y CAVTHRON.

Iitnesses GEO. PATTEN, JOHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD.

